2019 fixture verdict

Lee Gaskin, AFL Media
Nov 2, 2018 10:36AM

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 1: The fixture guide is seen during the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Fixture Release at Marvel Stadium on November 1, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)

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PROS: The Crows can just about chalk up four certain victories by playing bottom-four sides Gold Coast and St Kilda twice. Don't have to play Collingwood, Richmond, and Essendon at the MCG, with each of those games at Adelaide Oval. Have five games on either Thursday or Friday night, a solid result given they finished 12th last season.

CONS: They have a tough first three games in the space of 12 days against top-eight sides Hawthorn, Sydney and Geelong. Couldn't ask for a much harder game off their five-day break, hosting 2017 premier Richmond. Face reigning premier West Coast twice, including back-to-back games with the Eagles and fellow grand finalists Collingwood in Rounds 21-22.

MAKE OR BREAK: The stretch of six games from Rounds 10-16 will define the Crows' season – West Coast (home), Melbourne in Darwin, Greater Western Sydney (home), Richmond off a five-day break, away to Geelong and the second Showdown of the season against Port Adelaide.

WE SAY: The Crows have a tough opening, a tricky middle and a difficult end to 2019. With that said, there's enough opportunities for them to gain momentum providing they can successfully navigate the difficult periods. They don't face any top-eight sides between Rounds Four to Nine, nor in Rounds 16-20. Consecutive six-day breaks to open the season isn't ideal, nor is taking on 2017 premiers Richmond off the back of a five-day break in Round 13. But the flipside is hosting big-drawing Victorian clubs Collingwood, Richmond and Essendon, along with Hawthorn, Geelong and reigning premier West Coast. Only playing two top-eight sides twice makes this a win.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs